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21 Sep 2026 | 19.30
Premier League
PUBLICIDAD
The Liverpool transfer market once again has Florian Wirtz, a 23-year-old German midfielder, at the center of debate following the latest criticism from Jamie Carragher. The former defender believes that the performance shown since his arrival does not merely reflect a temporary form issue and questions whether he can justify the £116 million paid to Bayer Leverkusen in June 2025.
Liverpool and Jamie Carragher's Critique of Wirtz
Carragher spoke out again after Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool on September 20, a match in which Wirtz played 71 minutes. The German was involved in the play leading to Alexander Isak's goal but failed to score or assist.
Carragher's criticism goes beyond that game. His argument is that Wirtz may not be going through a mere bad spell but rather displaying characteristics that, in his view, limit his offensive impact in English football. Thus, he believes that Liverpool should consider dropping him from the starting eleven.
The debate continues as Germany still regards Wirtz as one of its key internationals. However, his current stats with Liverpool differ from his time at Bayer Leverkusen: in the first 5 matchdays of the 2026/27 Premier League season, he has 0 goals and 1 assist.
🗣️ "I don't think Florian Wirtz is in poor form, what we're seeing is what he is"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 20, 2026
Jamie Carragher says he is worried for Florian Wirtz and doesn't see how he will hurt teams ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/umgZ0ZgfzK
Florian Wirtz Facing a Second Season Under Pressure
Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £116 million, with £100 million fixed and up to £16 million in add-ons. The contract of the German midfielder runs until June 30, 2030, so there is currently no contractual obligation for the club to consider an immediate departure.
His debut season saw him record 7 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, as mentioned by Liverpool.com when analyzing his debut figures. In the Premier League, he finished with 5 goals and 3 assists, numbers that Carragher deems insufficient given the investment made.
This season, Wirtz has started in all five league games played so far. He has racked up 421 minutes, with one assist and no goals, while Liverpool has secured two wins and drawn three matches in the league.
During August, Carragher had already questioned Wirtz's ability to adapt to the pace of the Premier League and whether his profile fits the midfield structure. His recent comments further raise doubts after another performance without direct output.
Germany Still Relies on Wirtz as Liverpool Must Decide
The next scenario will unfold after the international break. Liverpool will face Manchester City on October 11, a match that could determine whether Andoni Iraola keeps Wirtz in the starting lineup or alters the formation following Carragher's criticisms.
Wirtz, who has been followed this summer by Bayern Munich, is under contract until 2030, so any discussion of a departure currently pertains to sports assessment rather than confirmed negotiations.
The immediate priority is to assess if he can regain offensive productivity with Liverpool before doubts about his adaptation increase. Additionally, for Germany, his upcoming international commitments will offer a chance to observe his performance outside of Anfield.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Liverpool, agotado con Wirtz